KR20160005595A - Touch window - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a touch window comprises: a substrate; and an electrode portion arranged on the substrate. The electrode portion comprises: a base material in which a pattern portion is formed; and an electrode layer arranged on the pattern portion. A thickness of the electrode layer is 0.03 micrometer to 3 micrometer. Therefore, the touch window improves reliability.

Description

Touch window {TOUCH WINDOW}

An embodiment relates to a touch window.

[0002] In recent years, a touch window has been applied to input images in a manner of touching an input device such as a finger or a stylus to an image displayed on a display device in various electronic products.

Such a touch window is typically divided into a resistive touch window and a capacitive touch window. The resistance film type touch window detects the change of resistance according to the connection between the electrodes when the pressure is applied to the input device, and the position is detected. The capacitive touch window senses the change in capacitance between the electrodes when a finger touches them, and the position is detected. Considering the convenience of the manufacturing method and the sensing power, recently, in a small model, the electrostatic capacity method has attracted attention.

Indium tin oxide (ITO), which is most widely used as a transparent electrode in such a touch window, is expensive and physically easily hit by bending and warping of the substrate, and the characteristics of the electrode are deteriorated. As a result, flexible) devices. In addition, when applied to a large size touch panel, a problem arises due to high resistance.

In order to solve such problems, active researches on alternative electrodes are under way. For example, there is a research to replace ITO by forming an electrode material in a mesh shape, and a mesh-shaped electrode can be formed by various methods using various electrode materials.

For example, the mesh-shaped electrode may be formed using a metal paste. However, in the case of such a metal paste, when the electrode having a small line width is formed, the paste is not properly filled, resulting in defects, and reliability is lowered.

Therefore, a touch window having a new structure capable of solving the above problems is required.

The embodiment attempts to provide a touch window with improved reliability.

A touch window according to an embodiment includes: a substrate; And an electrode part disposed on the substrate, wherein the electrode part comprises: a substrate on which a pattern part is formed; And an electrode layer disposed on the pattern portion, wherein the thickness of the electrode layer is 0.03 mu m to 3 mu m.

The touch window according to the embodiment can reduce the thickness of the electrode portion. In detail, the electrode part, that is, the electrode layer constituting the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode is formed of a plated layer, so that the electrical characteristics can be maintained even if the electrode part is arranged with a small thickness. Therefore, the thickness of the electrode part can be reduced, .

Further, by forming the electrode layer with the plating layer, the electrode layers can be uniformly arranged in the pattern portion, the characteristics of the electrode layers disposed in the respective pattern portions can be made uniform, and the reliability of the touch window can be improved .

1 is a plan view of a touch window according to an embodiment.
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA 'in FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA 'in FIG.
FIGS. 4 to 7 are views for explaining a process of forming the electrode unit according to the embodiment.
8 to 11 are other views for explaining a process of forming the electrode portion according to the embodiment.
12 is a cross-sectional view of a device device to which a touch window according to the embodiment is applied.
13 to 16 are views showing an example of a device device to which a touch window according to the embodiment is applied.

In the description of the embodiments, it is to be understood that each layer (film), area, pattern or structure may be referred to as being "on" or "under / under" Quot; includes all that is formed directly or through another layer. The criteria for top / bottom or bottom / bottom of each layer are described with reference to the drawings.

The thickness or the size of each layer (film), region, pattern or structure in the drawings may be modified for clarity and convenience of explanation, and thus does not entirely reflect the actual size.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a touch window according to an embodiment may include a substrate 100 and an electrode unit 200 on the substrate.

The substrate 100 may be rigid or flexible. For example, the substrate 100 may comprise glass or plastic. In detail, the substrate 100 may include chemically tempered glass such as soda lime glass or aluminosilicate glass, or may include plastic such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The substrate 100 may support the electrode unit 200. That is, the substrate 100 may be a supporting substrate for supporting the electrode unit 200.

In the substrate 100, a valid region AA and a non-valid region UA may be defined.

The display may be displayed in the effective area AA and the display may not be displayed in the non-valid area UA disposed around the valid area AA.

In addition, the position of the input device (e.g., a finger or the like) can be sensed in at least one of the valid area AA and the ineffective area UA. When an input device such as a finger is brought into contact with such a touch window, a capacitance difference occurs at a portion where the input device is contacted, and a portion where such a difference occurs can be detected as the contact position.

The electrode unit 200 may be disposed on the substrate 100. The electrode unit 200 may include a sensing electrode 210 and / or a wiring electrode 220.

The sensing electrode 210 may be disposed in at least one of the effective area AA and the ineffective area UA of the substrate 100. Preferably, the sensing electrode 210 may be disposed on the effective area AA of the substrate.

The sensing electrode 210 may include various metals. For example, the sensing electrode 210 may be formed of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Cr, Ni, Cu, Al, Ag, Mo, .

The sensing electrode 210 may include a mesh shape. In detail, the sensing electrode 200 may include a plurality of sub-electrodes, and the sub-electrodes may be arranged to intersect with each other in a mesh shape.

1, the sensing electrode 210 may include a mesh line LA and a mesh opening OA between the mesh lines by a plurality of sub-electrodes crossing each other in a mesh shape.

The mesh opening OA may have a rectangular shape. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and the mesh opening OA may have various shapes such as a diamond shape, a pentagon, a hexagonal polygonal shape, or a circular shape. In addition, the mesh opening OA may be formed in a regular shape or a random shape.

Since the sensing electrode 210 has a mesh shape, the pattern of the sensing electrode can be made invisible on the effective area AA. That is, even if the sensing electrode is formed of metal, the pattern can be made invisible. In addition, the resistance of the touch window can be lowered even when the sensing electrode is applied to a touch window of a large size.

The wiring electrode 220 may be disposed on a non-effective region of the substrate 100.

The wiring electrode 220 is connected to the sensing electrode 210 and extends in the direction of the non-effective area UA to be connected to the printed circuit board on the non-effective area UA.

The wiring electrode 220 may include the same or similar material as the sensing electrode 210. In detail, the wiring electrode 220 may be formed of a material such as indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, copper oxide, tin oxide, zinc oxide, titanium (CN), graphene or conductive polymer, chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al) (Al), silver (Ag), molybdenum (Mo), or an alloy thereof.

The wiring electrode 220 may have a mesh shape like the sensing electrode 210.

Figs. 2 and 3 are views showing a cross-sectional view of a touch window.

Referring to FIG. 2, a touch window according to an embodiment may include a substrate 211 on a substrate 100 and an electrode layer 212 on the substrate 211.

The substrate 211 may comprise plastic. For example, the substrate 211 may include a resin. For example, the substrate 211 may include a UV resin or a photocurable resin.

The base material 211 may include a pattern portion P. [ In FIG. 2, it is shown that the pattern portion P of the engraved pattern is formed on the substrate 211, but it is needless to say that the pattern portion of the emboss pattern may be formed without being limited to the embodiment.

The pattern portion P may be formed in a mesh shape. In detail, the pattern portions P may be formed in a mesh shape intersecting with each other.

The pattern portion P may have a wider width as it extends from the lower surface of the substrate 211 to the upper surface. The substrate 211 includes a lower surface 211a contacting the substrate 100 and an upper surface 211b opposite to the lower surface 211a and the pattern portion P is formed on the lower surface 211a The width may be increased as it extends in the direction of the upper surface 211b.

The electrode layer 212 may be disposed on the substrate 211. In detail, the electrode layer 212 may be disposed on the pattern portion P of the substrate 211. For example, the electrode layer 212 may be disposed in the pattern portion P. [ Accordingly, the electrode layer 212 may be disposed on the substrate 211 in a mesh shape. In addition, the electrode layer 212 may be arranged so that the width of the electrode layer 212 increases from the lower surface 211a toward the upper surface 211b as the shape of the pattern portion.

The electrode layer 212 may include a metal. In detail, the electrode layer 212 may include at least one of Cu, Au, Ag, Al, Ti, Ni, and alloys thereof.

In addition, the electrode layer 212 may be a plated layer. In detail, the electrode layer 212 may be disposed in the pattern portion P through electroless plating.

The electrode layer 212 may have a predetermined thickness. The thickness T1 of the electrode layer 212 may be about 3 mu m or less. In detail, the electrode layer 212 may be formed to a thickness of about 0.03 μm to about 3 μm. More specifically, the electrode layer 212 may be formed to a thickness of about 0.1 탆 to about 1.5 탆.

If the thickness of the electrode layer 212 is less than about 0.03 m, the electrode resistance may increase and the efficiency may decrease. When the thickness of the electrode layer 212 is more than about 3 m, the thickness of the sensing electrode may increase, And the process efficiency may be lowered.

In addition, the electrode layers 212 may be arranged with a constant width. In detail, the width W of the electrode layer 212, for example, an average width of about 4 mu m or less can prevent the pattern of the electrode layer 212 from being visually recognized from the outside. More specifically, the electrode layer 212 may be arranged at a width of about 1 탆 to about 4 탆.

The electrode layer 212 may be disposed in contact with at least one surface of the inner surface of the pattern unit P. In detail, the pattern portion P includes a first surface P1, a second surface P2, and a third surface P3 connecting the first surface P1 and the second surface P2 And the electrode layer 212 may be disposed in contact with at least one of the first surface P1, the second surface, and the third surface P3.

The electrode layer 212 may contact at least one of the first surface P1, the second surface, and the third surface P3 and may be disposed while filling a portion of the pattern portion P. have.

An anti-reflection layer 300 may be further disposed on the electrode layer 212. In detail, the antireflection layer 300 is disposed in the pattern portion P and may be disposed on the electrode layer 212.

The anti-reflection layer 300 may be opaque and may also include black-based colors. For example, the anti-reflection layer 300 may include at least one of black, gray, and mixed colors thereof. That is, the antireflection layer 300 may be a blackening layer.

The electrode layer 212 and the antireflection layer 300 may be disposed to have different thicknesses in the pattern portion P. [ 2, the thickness T1 of the electrode layer 212 may be greater than the thickness T2 of the antireflection layer 300. Referring to FIG.

Referring to FIG. 3, the sensing electrode 210 according to another embodiment may include a substrate 211 on the substrate 100 and an electrode layer 212 on the substrate 211. In the description of FIG. 3, description of the same portions as those of FIG. 2 described above will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 3, the sensing electrode 210 according to another embodiment may be disposed only on the inner surface of the pattern unit. That is, the pattern unit P may be disposed in contact with at least one of the first surface P1, the second surface, and the third surface P3. In detail, the electrode layer 212 may be disposed in a shape corresponding to at least one of the first surface P1, the second surface, and the third surface P3.

The anti-reflection layer 300 may be disposed on the electrode layer 212. In detail, the antireflection layer 300 may be partially surrounded by the electrode layer 212.

3, the antireflection layer 300 includes a contact surface CA that contacts the electrode layer 212 and a non-contact surface NCA that is exposed to the outside without contacting the electrode layer 212. For example, can do.

That is, the anti-reflection layer 300 may be partially surrounded by the electrode layer 212 by the contact surface CA.

In addition, the contact surface CA and the non-contact surface NCA may have different sizes. In detail, the area or length of the contact surface CA may be larger than the area or length of the non-contact surface NCA.

The electrode layer 212 and the antireflection layer 300 may be disposed to have different thicknesses in the pattern portion P. [ In detail, the thickness T1 of the electrode layer 212 may be less than the thickness T2 of the antireflection layer 300.

4 to 7 are diagrams showing a manufacturing process of the electrode unit according to the embodiment. 4 to 7 are diagrams showing a manufacturing process of the electrode unit according to the embodiment of FIG. 2 in detail.

Referring to FIG. 4, the substrate 211 may be disposed on the substrate 100. Subsequently, the pattern portion P can be formed on the substrate 211 with a predetermined width and height. In detail, a mesh-shaped pattern portion P can be formed on the substrate 211.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, an electrode layer 212 may be disposed on the substrate 211. In detail, the metal electrode layer can be disposed on the substrate 212.

The electrode layer 212 may be disposed on the substrate 211 while filling the pattern portion P. [ The electrode layer 212 may be deposited by an electroless plating method. By directly depositing the electrode layer 212 by an electroless plating method, a metal having an electrical characteristic superior to that of the paste can be directly deposited on the substrate. As a result, the electrode layer can be deposited with a small thickness, and the thickness of the electrode layer can be reduced.

Further, by depositing by the electroless plating method, the electrode layer can be deposited in a more uniform thickness in the pattern portion than in the case of applying the paste.

Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the electrode portion, that is, the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode according to the embodiment to reduce the thickness of the touch window, and to arrange a uniform thickness roll electrode layer, .

Referring to FIG. 6, the electrode layer 212 may be etched. The remaining electrode layers may be removed by etching except for the electrode layer disposed in the pattern portion 212 among the electrode layers disposed on the substrate 211 in detail.

Referring to FIG. 7, the anti-reflection layer 300 may be disposed on the electrode layer 212. The antireflection layer 300 may be formed using a black pigment or the like.

8 to 11 are views showing a manufacturing process of the electrode unit according to the embodiment. 8 to 7 are diagrams showing a manufacturing process of the electrode unit according to the embodiment of FIG. 2 in detail.

Referring to FIG. 8, the substrate 211 may be disposed on the substrate 100. Subsequently, the pattern portion P can be formed on the substrate 211 with a predetermined width and height. In detail, a mesh-shaped pattern portion P can be formed on the substrate 211.

Next, referring to FIG. 9, an electrode layer 212 may be disposed on the substrate 211. In detail, the metal electrode layer can be disposed on the substrate 212.

The electrode layer 212 may be disposed on the substrate 211 while filling the pattern portion P. [ The electrode layer 212 may be disposed on the upper surface of the substrate 211 and the inner surface of the pattern portion P. [ That is, the electrode layer 212 may be deposited on the upper surface of the substrate 211 and the inner surface of the pattern portion P with a uniform thickness.

The electrode layer 212 may be deposited by an electroless plating method. By directly depositing the electrode layer 212 by an electroless plating method, a metal having an electrical characteristic superior to that of the paste can be directly deposited on the substrate. As a result, the electrode layer can be deposited with a small thickness, and the thickness of the electrode layer can be reduced.

Further, by depositing by the electroless plating method, the electrode layer can be deposited in a more uniform thickness in the pattern portion than in the case of applying the paste.

Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the electrode portion, that is, the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode according to the embodiment to reduce the thickness of the touch window, and to arrange a uniform thickness roll electrode layer, .

Referring to FIG. 10, the anti-reflection layer 300 may be disposed on the substrate 212. The antireflection layer may be disposed in the pattern portion P in detail. The anti-reflection layer 300 may be disposed while filling the pattern portion P.

Referring to FIG. 11, the electrode layer 300 may be etched. The remaining electrode layers may be removed by etching except for an electrode layer disposed in the pattern portion 212 of the electrode layer 300 disposed on the substrate 211 in detail.

As described above, the antireflection layer is first disposed, and then the electrode layer is etched, so that the antireflection layer can serve as a mask when the electrode layer is etched. Further, by arranging the blackening layer on the electrode layer, it is possible to prevent the appearance from being damaged when the antireflection layer is formed.

The touch window according to the embodiment can be configured in various types.

That is, the sensing electrode 210 includes a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode extending in different directions, and may be formed in various types according to the position of each sensing electrode.

For example, the substrate 100 may be a cover substrate, and the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode may be insulated from each other on the same side of the substrate 100.

Alternatively, a cover substrate may be further disposed on the substrate, a first sensing electrode may be disposed on one surface of the cover substrate, and a second sensing electrode may be disposed on one surface of the substrate.

Alternatively, a cover substrate may be further disposed on the substrate, the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode may be insulated from each other on the same surface of the substrate, or may be disposed on one surface of the substrate and on the other surface opposite to the one surface. 1 sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode may be arranged, respectively.

Alternatively, a cover substrate is further disposed on the substrate, a second substrate is disposed on the substrate, and a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode are disposed on one surface of the substrate and one surface of the second substrate, respectively .

12 is a cross-sectional view of a touch device according to an embodiment. Referring to FIG. 12, the touch device according to the embodiment may include at least one touch window among the touch windows of FIGS. 2 to 3 and the display panel 400 on the touch window.

The display panel 400 may include a light module 410 and a liquid crystal panel 420.

The light module 410 may include a light source that outputs light toward the liquid crystal panel 420. For example, the light source may include a light emitting diode (LED) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED).

The liquid crystal panel 420 may include a plurality of liquid crystal elements. Such a liquid crystal device can change the arrangement of molecules internally according to an electric signal applied from the outside, and can give a certain pattern directionality.

The display panel 400 may refract the light beams in different patterns while the light beams emitted from the light module 410 pass through the liquid crystal panel 420.

Further, although not shown, the display panel 400 may further include a polarizing filter, a color filter, and the like disposed on the liquid crystal panel 420.

The touch window may be disposed on the display panel 400. In detail, the touch window may be accommodated in the cover case and disposed on the driving unit 400. The touch window may be adhered to the driving unit 400. In detail, the touch panel and the driving unit 500 may be adhered to each other through an optical clear adhesive (OCA) or the like.

The touch window according to the embodiment can reduce the thickness of the electrode portion. In detail, the electrode part, that is, the electrode layer constituting the sensing electrode and the wiring electrode is formed of a plated layer, so that the electrical characteristics can be maintained even if the electrode part is arranged with a small thickness. Therefore, the thickness of the electrode part can be reduced, .

Further, by forming the electrode layer with the plating layer, the electrode layers can be uniformly arranged in the pattern portion, the characteristics of the electrode layers disposed in the respective pattern portions can be made uniform, and the reliability of the touch window can be improved .

Hereinafter, an example of a display device to which a touch window according to the above-described embodiments is applied will be described with reference to FIGS.

Referring to Fig. 13, a mobile terminal is shown as an example of a touch device. The mobile terminal may include a valid area AA and a non-valid area UA. The effective area AA senses a touch signal by touching a finger or the like, and a command icon pattern part and a logo are formed on the non-valid area.

Referring to FIG. 14, the touch window may include a flexible flexible touch window. Accordingly, the touch device device including the same may be a flexible touch device device. Therefore, the user can bend or bend by hand.

Referring to FIG. 15, such a touch window can be applied not only to a touch device such as a mobile terminal, but also to a car navigation system. 16, such a touch window can also be applied to a vehicle. That is, the touch window can be applied to various parts to which a touch window can be applied in the vehicle. Therefore, not only PND (Personal Navigation Display) but also dashboard can be applied to implement CID (Center Information Display). However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that such a touch device device can be used for various electronic products.

The features, structures, effects and the like described in the foregoing embodiments are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention and are not necessarily limited to one embodiment. Further, the features, structures, effects, and the like illustrated in the embodiments may be combined or modified in other embodiments by those skilled in the art to which the embodiments belong. Therefore, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to these combinations and modifications.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It can be seen that various modifications and applications are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiments may be modified and implemented. It is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

Claims (18)

Board; And
And an electrode portion disposed on the substrate,
The electrode unit includes:
A substrate on which a pattern portion is formed;
And an electrode layer on the pattern portion,
Wherein the thickness of the electrode layer is 0.03 mu m to 3 mu m. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the electrode layer is disposed in a mesh shape. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the electrode layer is a plated layer. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the substrate comprises a lower surface in contact with the substrate and an upper surface opposite to the lower surface,
Wherein the electrode layer has a larger width as it extends from the lower surface to the upper surface. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the pattern portion includes a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface connecting the first surface and the second surface,
Wherein the electrode layer is disposed in contact with at least one of the first surface, the second surface, and the third surface. The method according to claim 1,
And an anti-reflection layer disposed on the electrode layer. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the thickness of the electrode layer is different from the thickness of the antireflection layer. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the thickness of the electrode layer is larger than the thickness of the antireflection layer. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the thickness of the electrode layer is smaller than the thickness of the antireflection layer. The method according to claim 6,
The anti-
A contact surface contacting the electrode layer; And
And a non-contact surface exposed to the outside,
Wherein the area of the contact surface is different from the area of the non-contact surface. 11. The method of claim 10,
Wherein the area of the contact surface is larger than the area of the non-contact surface. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the electrode layer comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Cu, Au, Ag, Al, Ti, Ni, and alloys thereof. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the width of the electrode layer is 1 占 퐉 to 4 占 퐉. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the electrode unit includes at least one of a sensing electrode and a wiring electrode. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the electrode portion includes a sensing electrode,
Wherein the sensing electrode includes a first sensing electrode and a second sensing electrode extending in different directions,
Wherein the first sensing electrode and the second sensing electrode are disposed on at least one of a surface of the substrate and a surface opposite to the surface. The method according to claim 1,
And a cover substrate disposed on the substrate. Board; And
And an electrode portion disposed on the substrate,
The electrode unit includes:
A substrate on which a pattern portion is formed;
And an electrode layer on the pattern portion,
Wherein the electrode layer is a plated layer. 17. A touch screen, comprising: a touch window according to any one of claims 1 to 17;
And a display panel on the touch window.

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